Championship on backburner due to hectic schedule

The new tournament between the top four ranked Test teams, had been pencilled into a packed international calendar but Lorgat revealed it has been delayed until 2017 at the earliest.

“I am afraid that it is no longer going to happen in 2013,” said Lorgat. “At the last board meeting we decided the first opportunity to play the Test Championship is 2017.

“I am disappointed it is not going to take place sooner but it is a reality of the commitments we have already got through to 2015.”

Lorgat has been an enthusiastic advocate of the introduction of a Test Championship and major venues in England were primed to host the semi-finals.

The intention then was to stage a final at Lord’s, the home of cricket.

After a board meeting last month the governing body admitted that the tournament was on shaky ground due to the apparent reluctance of broadcasters to embrace the idea.

The championship was set to replace the Champions Trophy but the commercial appeal of the 50-over game is set to win out.

After last month’s meeting, the ICC released a statement which read: “It would be unfortunate if the Test Championship is delayed to 2017, but the board needs to balance several objectives.

“The ICC executive board confirmed their preference to host an ICC Test Championship in 2013 but recognised the significant commercial challenge in trying to replace the Champions Trophy.

“Without the support and consent of the ICC’s broadcast partner, ESPN Star Sports, the financial implications on the members and the development of the game would be significant.”

Rahul Dravid’s 36th Test century helped put India in a strong position at stumps on the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies, but Sachin Tendulkar’s quest for his 100th international hundred was again put on hold.

Dravid made 119 while VVS Laxman (73 no) and Gautam Gambhir (65) also made good contributions as India, leading 1-0 in the three-Test series, closed on 346-5 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

It might have been even better for the hosts but they lost Dravid and nightwatchman Ishant Sharma in the last two overs of the day.

Dravid’s century was his fourth in his last six Tests, but Tendulkar, the ‘Little Master’, has remained stuck on 99 international centuries since the World Cup in March.

His wait to reach his unprecedented milestone continued after he fell for 38 in the afternoon session.